m)
Copy.
Encl. to M. 7437 of 16 June Colonial Office
C.01
40326 1912
15712
49
RESP
仪
Rec'd 20 JUN 19
30th April 1890.
Submitted for information. It was arranged by the Governor of Hong Kong that the territory should be taken over with some ceremony, which was to take place on 17th April at Tai-po-hu at the head of Tolo harbour, but when the Superintendent of Police was sent there with a few constables to make some preliminary arrangements, he unexpectedly met with determined opposition from the villagers.
2. The Governor thereupon went (in the "Fame") to Canton to interview the Viceroy, and request him to send Chinese Troops to keep order and guard the matsheds being erected for the ceremony.
3. I am not aware of the terms of the Viceroy's reply, but it was apparently satisfactory, as further trouble was not expected: whatever his words may have been, the increased opposition to our occupation afterwards experienced shows that he was either powerless in the matter or else made no effort to allay it, and the rioters seem to have received his silent, if not active, support, as Chinese troops were engaged in the attack on the 15th April (Fnc.No.3). The Viceroy, whom I saw last January, is old and infirm, but full responsibility for it must from our point of view rest with him because he is the Viceroy.
4. The hitherto peaceful state of the Kowloon peninsula has led no one to anticipate any trouble, but, as more than nine months have elapsed since the Convention leasing the territory to us came into force, the Chinese Authorities